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News for the Food Truck Industry... Food Trucks, Carts, Mobile Catering, Lunch Trucks & Mobile KitchensSun, 12 Jul 2015 21:00:06 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3Auckland, NZL: Hot dog van offers hope for homeless manhttp://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/auckland-nzl-hot-dog-van-offers-hope-for-homeless-man/
http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/auckland-nzl-hot-dog-van-offers-hope-for-homeless-man/#commentsSun, 12 Jul 2015 20:31:44 +0000http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/?p=72493Brad and Codey became regular visitors to the cart and finally, impressed by Brad, Coppard bought him a van to live in and has given him his own hot dog cart so he can sell hot dogs in the same streets and parks in which he used to sleep.

Give a man a hot dog and you feed him for a day. Give him an entire hot dog cart and you change his life forever.

Brad had been down on his luck, living rough in Auckland’s central city parks with only faithful hound Codey as company when one night the dog’s nose lead them to Steve Coppard and his Rock Dogs food truck.

“He came to my truck one night, we had a bit of a chat and he was hungry and homeless and I gave him a hotdog and fed his dog,” Coppard said.

Brad and Codey became regular visitors to the cart and finally, impressed by Brad, Coppard bought him a van to live in and has given him his own hot dog cart so he can sell hot dogs in the same streets and parks in which he used to sleep.

“It’s hard to explain what this means really,” said Brad, who despite his problems, retains his pride and doesn’t want his last name used. But he does want to pay tribute to his mate, Coppard.

It’s silver, sleek and reminiscent of a 1950s diner; exactly what the owners of Ted’s Restaurant wanted for its renowned steamed cheeseburgers.

“We wanted to get something old to get us that nostalgic feel,” said Christian Parisi, a co-owner of Ted’s in Cromwell. “We’re in our second year now. We’re one of the biggest draws everywhere we go.”

Partners Bill Foreman, whose uncle founded Ted’s Restaurant more than 50 years ago, Scott Backus and Parisi wanted the food truck after being invited to sell their steamed cheeseburgers at the Xfinity Theater in Hartford. They were using tables to create an outdoor kitchen, but knew a food truck was more efficient. Plus, it’s cool.

They convinced a Branford owner to give up a food truck he didn’t want to sell, and paid $8,000 for it unpainted and empty. They outfitted it with four stove boxes — which can make 48 burgers at a time — a sink, refrigerator and more to create “Ted’s Steam Machine” to feed hungry concert and festival crowds.

“It’s all we need to do our cheeseburgers,” said Foreman who owns the Broad Street eatery in the city. “That’s what people are looking for; that’s what we’re known for.”

Ted’s national reputation has helped its mobile sales with many customers declaring “I didn’t know you had a truck,” Foreman said. “People love it. It fits into that old diner feel.”

Backus swore he would never return to the restaurant business after opening Huxley’s Bookmark Cafe on East Main Street and selling it about five years ago. But when he was asked to join Foreman and Parisi at Ted’s, he jumped at it because it was such a unique product.

Foreman was loading the beef and buns into Ted’s Steam Machine on Friday to prepare for the Toby Keith concert at the Xfinity. The truck would be returning to Hartford on Saturday for James Taylor, and Sunday for the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival. Only two other food truck vendors were invited to sell at the Xfinity.

“It’s growing the business,” Foreman said. “It allows us to bring steamed cheeseburgers to people who can’t get to the brick-and-mortar locations.”

Backus estimates the truck makes up between 20 and 25 percent of the operation’s total sales. He said he tries to send the brand to places that benefit Ted’s two locations, such as private parties. The truck was at a fundraiser Thursday at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington.

Backus isn’t interested in large food truck festival events where Ted’s Steam Machine can get lost with dozens of other vendors.

“We like to do smaller events,” Backus said. “Like the dog show in Hebron. We did lunch and dinner. I know everybody on a first-name basis. We try to be selective.

]]>http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/meriden-ct-meriden-burger-delicacy-goes-mobile-with-teds-steam-machine/feed/0Vancouver, CAN: Sneak Peek – Torafuku Modern Asian Eateryhttp://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/vancouver-can-sneak-peek-torafuku-modern-asian-eatery/
http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/vancouver-can-sneak-peek-torafuku-modern-asian-eatery/#commentsSun, 12 Jul 2015 18:19:25 +0000http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/?p=72477The team behind the Le Tigre food truck are just about a week out from opening up their first permanent restaurant, Torafuku, and the modern, playful space is almost ready for hungry diners.

The team behind the Le Tigre food truck are just about a week out from opening up their first permanent restaurant, Torafuku, and the modern, playful space is almost ready for hungry diners.

Following in the spirit of their truck’s name, the name Torafuku (lucky tiger) was chosen to align with their signature big cat theme, and their street number on Main, 958, happens to be a lucky number, too.

The restaurant is situated in the burgeoning block between the Main Street/ScienceWorld SkyTrain station and Pacific Central Station, and the decor inside the minimalist space is a perfect reflection of the team’s and restaurant’s sensibilities.

Riffing on the notion of this being a brick-and-mortar operation the kitchen has exposed vents and a broad, open feel. In step with the exposed venting is the decor in the main dining area, which is actually insulation set in metal frames.

The tones of the room are subdued, but this is so that the more lively and creative elements have a perfect platform on which to really pop and infuse their energy in the space. This can be anything from a chef’s bright orange shoelaces (and, we expect, the Le Tigre truck team’s signature goofy glasses) to their custom designed plates and conversation-sparking menus, which look like layers of origami paper set on a board like a small notebook.

Inside the 2,200 square-foot, 50-seat Torafuku, owners Clement Chan and Steve Kuan are planning a menu of tapas-style share plates that reflects their pan-Asian influences and West Coast style. They’ll be doing dinner, and are thinking about how they might take on brunch, too. Chan explains that while they are heavily focused on Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisines, at the end of the day, their unofficial motto is “we cook classic favourites done however we feel like.”

Diners can choose from seating at the bar, individual tables, or an open communal table, the latter of which is going to be where customers from the Le Tigre truck–which will park outside nightly–can sit down and enjoy their more casual fare.

For the first Food Truck Fair of summer, more than 40 food trucks were lined engine to tailgate around the parking lot of the National Sports Center in Blaine last month. Hundreds of hungry folks devoured taste treats from tacos to gyros, from farm-grown organic salads to deep-fried cheese curds. Portions of the $2 admission fee were donated to local charities. But don’t worry if you missed out. The fairs will continue through the summer, with stops in downtown St. Paul on July 25 and Burnsville on Sept. 19. Find more information at www.mnfoodtruckfair.com.

]]>http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/st-paul-mn-food-truck-fairs-travel-the-twin-cities-this-summer/feed/0hoenix, AR: Food trucks kicked off AZ State Capitol lawnhttp://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/hoenix-ar-food-trucks-kicked-off-az-state-capitol-lawn/
http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/hoenix-ar-food-trucks-kicked-off-az-state-capitol-lawn/#commentsSun, 12 Jul 2015 16:33:27 +0000http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/?p=72469A group of food truck owners said they have a permit to park on the Capitol lawn for a few hours on Fridays for the lunch hour. One said they've been going for months. But Friday, they said they were told to leave.

Arizona state government says one of the biggest priorities is to promote commerce and create jobs.

So why were a group of entrepreneurs looking to cook up some business kicked off the Capitol lawn Friday?

A group of food truck owners said they have a permit to park on the Capitol lawn for a few hours on Fridays for the lunch hour. One said they’ve been going for months. But Friday, they said they were told to leave.

“Our loyal fan base, we call the lunchadors,” said Tim Cobb with Luncha Libre. He said a city transportation employee told them to leave.

(Source: KPHO/KTVK)

“Basically told us that the permit was no longer good that we had down there,” Cobb said.

He said thought the permit was good until December.

“There was going to be a reevaluation in July, just to simply see if any statutes or regulations had changed and apparently the evaluation was done and nobody told any of us,” Cobb said.

He still has no idea what changed with their permit, but this has cost them a lot of money.

“Friday is definitely one of our big days on there, it’s money we project we’re going to make,” Cobb said. “We had to send people home.”

The governor’s office tells us though the permit process doesn’t have anything to do with them, they’re going to look into this. Cobb said he hopes the state stands by its promise to help small businesses.

]]>http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/hoenix-ar-food-trucks-kicked-off-az-state-capitol-lawn/feed/0Sioux Falls, SD: Food Trucks Help Foster Familieshttp://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/sioux-falls-sd-food-trucks-help-foster-families/
http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/sioux-falls-sd-food-trucks-help-foster-families/#commentsSun, 12 Jul 2015 15:27:44 +0000http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/?p=72466Saturday afternoon Beds By Design had food trucks and inflatables open to the public for the Foods for Fosters event. The proceeds are going towards PATH Inc, a non-profit that works with high-need children in foster care.

SIOUX FALLS, SD – A Sioux Falls Business brought food trucks to its parking lot Saturday to help raise money for a non-profit.

Saturday afternoon Beds By Design had food trucks and inflatables open to the public for the Foods for Fosters event. The proceeds are going towards PATH Inc, a non-profit that works with high-need children in foster care.

Beds By Design owner Chad Yde is looking into foster care for his family, and when he started researching, he came across a surprising number.

“We didn’t realize there’s over 300 children without homes in Sioux Falls alone. A lot of people don’t know that so we thought, what a way to give back to the community. Start helping those families that need help,” Yde said.

Yde says if Saturday’s event is successful, you can see more food truck events in the store’s parking lot throughout the summer.

]]>http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/sioux-falls-sd-food-trucks-help-foster-families/feed/0San Diego, CA: New Orleans and Food Truck at Comiconhttp://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/san-diego-ca-new-orleans-and-food-truck-at-comicon/
http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/san-diego-ca-new-orleans-and-food-truck-at-comicon/#commentsSun, 12 Jul 2015 14:14:35 +0000http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/?p=72459"Having been to New Orleans and Eaten down there, the Cajun Beans with sausage, it can also be ordered without sausage. The sausage is cooked separately from the beans and rice. It is very good. It is very spicy, without being spicy hot. But it has a good zing to it and it is well presented.”

July 10, 2015 (San Diego) While at Comicon we had a chance to sample some food from the New Orleans Cuisine and Catering Truck. We had the Beans and Rice. Nadin had hers without the sausage and I had it with the sausage. It is cooked separately, so you can ask it without it.

“Having been to New Orleans and Eaten down there, the Cajun Beans with sausage, it can also be ordered without sausage. The sausage is cooked separately from the beans and rice. It is very good. It is very spicy, without being spicy hot. But it has a good zing to it and it is well presented.”

Photos: Tom AbbottPhotos: Tom Abbott

They used white rice, but it still has a lot of flavor.

It is also served with a crostini on the side made from a baguette, to cleanse the palate.

Photos: Tom Abbott

I also had a beignet, which was light with a dusting of confectioner’s sugar. “It is very light, very tasty and served warm.”

It is very well priced and very good food. If they are at another place, no doubt that I will look for them. The prices were $8.00 for the rice and beans and $10 for two beignets.

Food trucks have become a big hit in San Diego, and at times work with microbreweries. In this case they are at Comicon, working together with the Bad Ass Music Festival.

]]>http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/pittsburgh-pa-swing-truck-hosting-fiesta-el-domingo/feed/0Searcy, AR: Slader’s Alaskan Dumpling Co. Food Truck Plans To Open July 16http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/searcy-ar-sladers-alaskan-dumpling-co-food-truck-plans-to-open-july-16/
http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/searcy-ar-sladers-alaskan-dumpling-co-food-truck-plans-to-open-july-16/#commentsSat, 11 Jul 2015 19:17:35 +0000http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/?p=72539the food truck is launching! We have a rough schedule right now of where we are going to be, but we will obviously be updating our social media where and when the new spots will be.

A few weeks ago, Daniel Walker found out that Slader’s Alaskan Dumpling Co. was not only going mobile with a new food truck, but that it would be stationed in the Little Rock area. Well, he just found out some specifics from owner Slader Marshall … and it’s good news:

“The food truck is launching! We have a rough schedule right now of where we are going to be, but we will obviously be updating our social media where and when the new spots will be. But right now, starting July 19th, we will be at Stones Throw Brewing for brunch every Sunday. We will be at the Benton CrossFit Food Truck rally on the 16th, as well as Pulaski Academy on the 17th. We will be doing the Westover Farmers Market on the 21st and 28th.”

Word has it that Slader’s is also piecing together the lunch line-up of places.

Slader’s will be posting the majority of its info/new locations on Twitter. The Facebook page will serve as a page for the company, which includes the restaurant in Searcy and the food truck, as well as new product launches.

]]>http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/searcy-ar-sladers-alaskan-dumpling-co-food-truck-plans-to-open-july-16/feed/0Abilene, TX: Food Truck and Concert Site Causes Controversy at Councilhttp://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/abilene-tx-food-truck-and-concert-site-causes-controversy-at-council/
http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2015/07/abilene-tx-food-truck-and-concert-site-causes-controversy-at-council/#commentsSat, 11 Jul 2015 18:10:25 +0000http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/?p=72537f you’re a ‘foodie’ you may be in for a treat. City Council approved a zoning change that would allow a food truck court and concert venue. The decision did not come without debate.

ABILENE, Tx.– If you’re a ‘foodie’ you may be in for a treat. City Council approved a zoning change that would allow a food truck court and concert venue. The decision did not come without debate.

At Wednesday’s public hearing many voiced their concerns about loud noise and trash blowing from the food court to their neighborhoods. They argued that the location, across the highway from PrimeTime, isn’t suitable.

Others said that the business is just what Abilene needs. Right now the location, which is at 158 Tannehill Drive, is undeveloped.